The ‘boat has sailed’ on using An Post building as courthouse

THE building of a new courthouse at the Island of Geese site in Tralee is a ‘done deal’, despite fresh appeals for the An Post sorting office at Edward Street to facilitate a new courthouse.

The recent decision by Kerry County Council (KCC) to grant planning for a new An Post unit at the former BorgWarner facility in Tralee confirms the vacancy of its former building at the rear of Tralee Courthouse.

KCC’s decision prompted a last-ditch appeal by Sinn Féin TD Pa Daly on Wednesday to scrap the Island of Geese proposal and for the Court Service to purchase part of the An Post site at Edward Street, in order to improve and refurbish the courthouse facilities at its current location of Ashe Street. However, Mayor of Kerry Cllr Jim Finucane has said this cannot happen as the deal to build a new courthouse at the Island of Geese is ‘signed and sealed’.

“That boat has sailed 100 per cent and the new court house will be at the Island of Geese,” Mayor Finucane confirmed to The Kerryman.

“There is no going back. I’ve been in contact with those involved to try and press ahead with this development as it is another boost for infrastructure and jobs in Tralee. It’s a done deal and there is going to be no change on that,” he added.

Mayor Finucane said the transaction of sale has been fully completed, and the land in question at the Island of Geese – purchased from KCC for €160,000 – is now fully owned by the Court Service.

Funding is being sought to develop the new courthouse in the next tranche of the National Development Plan in 2025. But the Mayor of Kerry has not ruled out a funding announcement before then.

“I’m pushing for funding that will get the project started sooner rather than later,” he said. “I’d be confident that funding will be found.”

Once funding is secured, plans will then be drawn up and planning permission will be sought, after which point the project will be put out to tender.